Steering mechanism for boats



May 25 1926.

.J. E. CLEMENT STEERING MECHANISM FOR BOATS Filed April 16 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NV EN TOR.

aZ. 622M012 May 25 1926.

J. E. CLEMENT STEERING MECHANISM FOR BOATS Filed April 16, 1924 25heets-Sheet 2 [NI-ENTOR. @6515. (lament BY f ATT NEY.

Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED stares I I v 1,586,291 Parser orrics.

irAMEs n. CLEMENT, on NEW BALTIMORE, MICHIGAN.

- STEERINGMECHANISM FOR BOATS.

Application filed April is, 1924, Serial at. 706,900.

This invention relates to steering mecha-- nism for boats, and more particularly to power boats, such as speed boats, launches, tugs and steamers, althoughit is also applicable to mechanism for driving other .vehicles.

Theprimary object of my invention is the I provision of means under the control of the driver at all times, even when the vessel is moving, for quickly and easily adjusting the length of the tiller lines to maintain such lines taut under varying conditions. It has long been a desideratun'i among boat builders to overcome the objectionable slackness or overtautness of the tiller lines under changing weather conditions, or becausev of the stretch. engendered by continued use in. a

taut condition. Thus the tiller lines, after being correctly adjusted, may stretch under times dangerous, slackness exists, orbecause of dampness-one or both ofthe tillerropes lines without leaving his driving position or taking his eyes from the course to be followe Another object of my invention is the arrangement of the steering drum in sections normally'turning in unison, but which may be adjusted relatively to each other to adjust the tiller lines.

A further object of nay invention is the provision of an adjusting lever on the steering shaft closely adjacent :the steering wheel whereby the sections of the steering drum may be readily adjusted relatively to each other to thereby change the elfective lengths of the tiller lines. I

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accom panying' drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the aeveral-viewa the strain of use till an annoying, and some In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation, with parts bro-- ken away, of a power boat equipped withmy improved'steering mechanism. Fig. 2 isa plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through the steering shaft and associated mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially 011 the line 4-4: of Fig. 3, looking in the directionof the arrow, and

Fig. 5 is a detail section through the steering drum.

Referring now to the drawings, the nu meral 5 designates a power boatof any desired size and contour; and6 the rudder for guiding the boat,-the rudder being ournaled, intherusual or any desired. manner adjacent the stern of the boat and provided with a crossbar 7' inside the hull for connection with the tiller lines 8. The tiller lines extend from the extremities. of the cross bar 7 over suitable guide blocks 9-to the steering drum lOherein shown as mounted at the lowerextremity of the steering shaft 11 adjacent the bow of the boat. As

best illustrated in Fig. 3 the steering drum 10 is formed in sections, the slower sect-ion 10 being secured to a sleeve carried'by the steering wheel 12 so as to be always rotated simultaneously" with the steering wheel while the upper section 10 is mounted on the lower drum section 10 so as to be rotatable relatively thereto whenever it is 'desired to adjust the effective lengths of the tiller lines. The upper section 10 is connected to asleeve l3 surrouding the steering shaft 11 andconnected at its upper extremitywith an adjusting lever 14, sothatmovement of the adjusting lever around the steering shaft will simultaneously move the upper drum section 10. Means are provided for normally locking the adjusting lever 14 and sleeve 13 to the hub of the steer ing wheel 12 so that the upper drum section 1O will move simultaneously with the steering wheel and the lower drum section l0 in steering the boat. Thelocking mechanism herein illustrated 'comprisesa latch member 15 slidable in anzaperture in the adjusting lever .14 andconnected adjacent itslower extremity to a locking lever l6,-pivoted intermediate its ends inlugs 17 depending the; ad ustmg lever 1% (see Figs 3 are a). A. sprmglfi is arranged between the free extremity of the locking lever 16 and the adjusting lever so as to normally press the latch 15 into one of the series of securing apertures 19 in the hub of the steering wheel. hen it is desired to change the adjustment of the tiller lines the free end of the locking lever 16 is pressed upwardly to pull the latch 15 out of engagement with its securing apertures 19, whereupon by turning the adjusting lever 1 relatively to the steering wheel the upper drum section 10*, which is secured to the adjusting lever by the sleeve 13, is rotated relatively to the lower drum section 10, which is secured by means of the sleeve 20 to the hub of the steering wheel. Obviously, the movement of the adjusting lever so as to bring the latch 15 into the next adjacent aperture 19 will; move the upper drum section 1O through a relatively small arc and so will serve to take up a slight slaclmess in tlie tiller ropes, or it moved in the other direction will let out a relatively small portion of the tiller ropes to relieve overtautness. By continuing the relative movement 01": the adjusting lever'14. through a greater are any desired adjustment can be secured. The forward extremity of one tiller rope is suitably secured to the upper drum section 10 while the forward extremity of the other tiller rope is suitably secured to the lower drum section 10*, and, as is usual with steering drums, the ropes are wrapped for one or more revolutions around the drum sections before leading off to the tiller over the guide pulleys 9. To provide a bearing for the rotation of the upper drum section on the lower drum section, I have arranged an upwardly projecting neck portion 10 on the lower drum section 10 extending into a circular groove 10 in the lower edge of the upper drum section 10 This permits an overlapping of the two drum sections without changing the diameter of the outer periphery of the drum, and provides a. very simple but effective bearing for the rotation of the upper drum section.

The steering shaft and associated mechanism is suitably journaled in a bracket 21 secured to the dashboard 22 (See Fig. 1). The lower extremity of the bracket 21 is formed as a sleeve in which rotates the central control rods for regulating the spark, carburetor adjustment, etc, and which also provides on its upper face a thrust member upon which the lower extremity of the steering drum seats. The lower drum section 10 is firmly locked, as by means of the screws 23, to the sleeve 24 surrounding the central control rods, which sleeve is suitably fixed, as by the pin 25 to the hub portion of the steering wheel 12. The sleeve 13 connecting the upper drum section 10 and adjusting lever 14 surrounds the steering sleeve 24; and is suitably journaled in a bearing sleeve 26 lining the bracket 21. To permit a bearing for the upper end of the sleeve 13 the hub portion or the steering wheel is formed with a circular groove into which the end of the sleeve 13 extends (See Fig. 3). This permits a very compact arrangement of the steering wheel and control levers with the adjusting lever 14:.

The construction of the steering drum is such that the tiller ropes cannot climb over each other during the rotation of the drum. As best shown in Fig. 5 the end of one tiller rope is secured to the upper edge of the upper section while the end of the other tiller rope is secured to the lower edge of the lower section, and the ceiling of the ropes on the drum are in opposite directions so that one of the ropes is winding upon the drum while the other is unwinding, regardless of the direction of rotation of the drum. The particular manner of fastening the ropes to the drum is also novel and beneficial. The rope projects through openings in the periphery adjacent the edges of the drum and can be carried out through openings in the upper and lower faces of: the drum "for the purpose of convenient knotting, the knots on the rope being made of sufficient size to prevent the accidental slippingof therope end through the peripheral openmgs.

lVhile it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In steering mechanism for boats, a tiller, a pair of lines connected thereto, a two-part steering drum to which said lines are also connected, a steering wheel, means for permanently securing one section of the drum to the steering wheel, means for detachably connecting the other section of the drum to the steering wheel, and means for moving one section of the drum relatively to the other to adjust the effective lengths of the tiller lines including an adjusting lever mounted adjacent the steering wheel.

2. In steering mechanism for boats, 11 tiller, a pair of" lines connected thereto, a two-part steering drum to which said lines are also connected, a steering wheel, means for permanently securing one section 01'' the drum to the steering wheel, means for detachably connecting the other section of the drum to the steering wheel, means for moving one section of the drum relatively to the other to adjust the effective lengths of the tiller lines including a sleeve secured to the movable drum section and extending into proximity to the steering wheel, and ML justing lever secured to said sleeve adjacent the steering wheel. V

3. In steering mechanism for boats, a tiller, a pair of lines connected thereto, a twoart steerin drum to which said lines are ing one section of the drum relatively to the other to adjust the effective lengths of the tiller lines including a sleeve secured to the movable drum section and extending into proximity to the steering wheel, and an adjusting lever secured to said sleeve adjacent the steering wheel, said connecting means including a latch arranged between the adjusting lever and steering wheel.

4. In steering mechanism for boats, a tiller, a pair of lines connected thereto, a

two-part steering drum to which said lines are also connected, a steering wheel, means for permanently securing one section of the drum to the steering Wheel, means for detachably connecting the other section of the drum to the steering wheel, means for moving one section ofthe drum relativelyto the other to ad nst the effective lengths of vthe tiller lines including a sleevesecured to the movable drum section and extending into proximity to the steering wheel, an adusting lever secured to said sleeve ad acentthe steering wheel, said connecting means including alatch carried'by the adjusting steering wheel.

In steering mechanism for boats, a

steering shaft, a steering wheel arranged at one extremity thereof, a steering drum arranged adjacent the opposite extremity of the shaft and comprising a lower section connected with thesteering wheel, an upper section arranged to be rotated relatively to the lower section, a sleeve surrounding the steering shaft and connected to the movable upper drum section, an adjusting lever connected to said sleeve adjacent the steering wheel, a tiller, and lines intermediate the till er and drum sections.

1 In itness whereof I hereunto set my iand.

, JAMES E. CLEMENT;

lever and movable into engagement with the 

